Rear Light Strange Problem - Bad earth?

[dunning]

Hi Guys
Having a weird issue with my rear lights at the minute, basically ignition is off, all lights are turned off, car is locked, yet the rear lights are sometimes staying on, if they're not on fully then they're flickering sort of thing.
I'm not really any good with things like this and can't get it into the dealer for a few days, just wanted to know people's opinions and a possible cause of the problem? I'm sort of thinking it could be a bad earth somewhere but you guys here will know a lot more than me
Car in question is a Qashqai
Pictures attached of problem
Thanks In advance

[dunning]

[TallPaul]

Does it have a towbar?

[dunning]

No tow bar fitted
Going to try and get a look at it today sometime if possible, I've got an extended warranty on the car but doesn't cover electronics/wiring
thanks for the reply

[Oldred_V8S]

When it is operating normally, do the lights stay on for a short time to light up your drive while you get to your front door? Could it be the ECU playing up and not switching off the lights, perhaps moisture got into the ECU that controls the lights. I don't think this is an earth issue.

Probably some modern canbus /ECU nonsense that the manufacturers of modern cars insist on inflicting on us. You can't beat steam driven electrics!

[Penelope Stopit]

Oldred_V8S said:

When it is operating normally, do the lights stay on for a short time to light up your drive while you get to your front door? Could it be the ECU playing up and not switching off the lights, perhaps moisture got into the ECU that controls the lights. I don't think this is an earth issue.

Probably some modern canbus /ECU nonsense that the manufacturers of modern cars insist on inflicting on us. You can't beat steam driven electrics!

Im of the same opinion about ECU Issues
It will not be a bad earth at the lights, it could be a bad earth at the ECU or elsewhere but whatever it is a dealer will already know the cause and fix it very quickly. You will then receive a nice big bill for a very difficult fix.........

[dunning]

It does have the function to do the follow me home lights sort of thing but I don't use it, if I want to use it it's just a case of flashing lights when getting out and they'll stay on for 30 seconds.
I'll try and have a look for the ecu location when I finish work and see if there's any loose connections, if not it sounds like a trip to Nissan is in order
Any idea of a rough price for a ecu replaced and coded to the vehicle?

Thanks

[dunning]

I've got an extended warranty with my car, the following is some of the things not included, it doesn't state ecu anywhere just says about wiring and wiring blocks etc,
Will the ECU be covered do you think?

[Oldred_V8S]

dunning said:

I've got an extended warranty with my car, the following is some of the things not included, it doesn't state ecu anywhere just says about wiring and wiring blocks etc,
Will the ECU be covered do you think?

I would have thought so.

[dunning]

Appreciate the help,
From the sounds of the 2 posts above it does sound like I could be the ECU, if it's not what else could it be? Trying to get car booked in for a warranty claim at the end of the week

[Penelope Stopit]

Thats good ECU's are covered by the warranty going by that document. If anything is not included in not covered - it is covered

[dunning]

All fine tonight when returned home from work :-(

If it's the ECU would it be temperamental and just do it when it fancied or would it be a constant issue?

[Lea-Lea]

Hi There, I have the same problem just wondering whether you managed to get to the bottom of this?

[Micki-Finland]

I have the exact same problem. Wondering if you found any solution to it?

[Tc24]

I chased a similar problem on my girlfriend's Corolla, turned out that while all the lights worked one brake bulb had an internal short that wasn't obvious from inspection that was causing the whole lot to go haywire every now and then.

Not saying that's definitely that but a cheap option to rule out.